SIX NATIONS SPECIAL: A trip down rugby's memory lane with England and Scotland

They don't come much bigger than England v Scotland, whatever the sport, and their Calcutta Cup clashes in rugby union are particularly special.

While it is true, as some critics of the sport often claim, that not many nations compete at the highest level of the game (it would take something special and very surprising for anyone other than the three southern hemisphere giants or England and France to win a World Cup) one of the delights of the game is how many of those big matches are between ancient rivals.

England v Scotland is of course always a match to savour, and with the two nations clashing again at Twickenham in the final weekend of this year's Six Nations Championship, we look back at three memorable matches from yesteryear.

1990: SCOTLAND STUN FAVOURITES ENGLAND TO WIN GRAND SLAM

A day that fans of Scottish rugby, and indeed Scottish sport, will remember fondly for ever and a day.

England went into the Grand Slam decider as firm favourites, having played superbly throughout their campaign under captain Will Carling, while Scotland had gone about their business in more laborious fashion.

Media interest in the match was unprecedented, with many in Scotland riled by talk of Carling telling his team they were better than Scotland, while mischievous reporters claimed that 'England Grand Slam 1990' T shirts were on sale in Edinburgh before the game.

Scotland's players, led by captain David Sole, celebrate their win in 1990

Something was definitely in the air on that spring day, and the hosts produced a memorable performance at Murrayfield to stun the English.

Captain David Sole set the tone, leading Scotland out in a deliberate slow march, with a look of determination that suggested Carling's men wouldn't have it all their own way.

And when the Scottish players sung their anthem 'Flower of Scotland' with more gusto and emotion than they (arguably) every have we quickly realised that the home side were fired up like never before.

Watch the players sing the anthem on that memorable day ..

Some fine kicking from Craig Chalmers, with two penalties, put Scotland 6-0 up but their lead was reduced to four points when Jeremy Guscott finished off a fine move to score a try for England.

A third Chalmers penalty put the hosts 9-4 up at the break, with millions of people across Scotland by this stage praying for a famous upset.

And then early in the second period came the moment that would be replayed time and time again over that weekend to millions of television viewers, as Gavin Hastings cleverly kicked forward and Tony Stanger gratefully gathered to score a try.

England tried desperately in the closing stages to fight their way back into the match, but could only add three points with a penalty from Andrew.

Scotland held on to win 13-7 and set up the mother of all parties in the Scottish capital and across the nation.

The Scots had won their second Grand Slam in six years, while for England (although the defeat was extremely painful) valuable lessons would be learned and Carling would subsequently lead England to successive Slams in 1991 and 1992.

1991: ENGLAND SEE OFF SCOTS TO REACH FIRST WORLD CUP FINAL

This was more about the occasion than the entertainment, because frankly it was a deeply ordinary match at Murrayfield.

The rugby World Cup is a funny old thing - little more than 20 years old but an event that has grown enormously in that time.

I recall being in Australia to see England's famous triumph in 2003, and while there host broadcaster Channel Seven were showing replays of the first tournament in 1987.

I have to say, putting it diplomatically, that the standard of rugby on show (not to mention the size of the crowd at times) bore little resemblance to the game we enjoy today.

Rory Underwood on the attack for England in the 1991 World Cup semi-final

While the 1991 tournament had a more professional feel than that first gathering, you could never have foreseen that a decade later two global spectaculars (and they truly were magnificent sporting events in 2003 and 2007) would have many pundits and fans claiming that the tournament is now the world's third biggest sporting event behind the Olympic Games and its football equivalent.

Rob Andrew kicked England into the World Cup final in 1991

While rugby never enjoyed the same kind of profile 18 years ago public interest had steadily grown throughout the 1991 tournament, particularly when England superbly beat France in their own backyard in the quarter-finals.

Scotland had enjoyed much smoother progress the weekend before, with victory over Western Samoa.

The semi-final on a cold, foggy, day at Murrayfield was characterised by kicking and set-plays, with the only points scored coming from the boot.

Gavin Hastings kicked two penalties for the Scots, with Jonathan Webb slotted over twice in reply for England.

I've certainly watched big events in more glamorous surroundings than on this autumn afternoon (the clubhouse at St Albans FC) but well recall the excitement and tension of the dramatic finish, as Hastings missed a relatively simple penalty chance in the closing minutes of the game.

Rob Andrew, who England could often depend upon when it came to the crunch in the big games, made Hastings and Scotland pay with a late drop goal to send England into the final.

England had been criticised for their style of rugby in the tournament (step forward David Campese for a change) but the following weekend's final at Twickenham wasn't the best time to try and change tactics on reflection. Despite an almighty effort England went down 12-6 to Australia.

2007: ENGLAND'S WORLD CUP HERO JONNY WILKINSON RETURNS IN STYLE

Jonny Wilkinson kicked brilliantly on his return for England in 2007

England were world champions after their unforgettable triumph in 2003, but they hadn't been playing like champions for some time when they began their campaign in the 2007 Six Nations Championship (remember Argentina the previous November that did for Andy Robinson? I watched that one in Buenos Aires and don't think I will quickly forget).

England's World Cup winning hero Jonny Wilkinson hadn't played for his country since the 2003 final, due to a succession of injuries, but finally made his return on this February afternoon.

I remember the temperatures being more mid-spring than winter on a day that Wilkinson would make headlines across the sporting world.

He scored 27 points at Twickenham, with his kicking as immaculate as ever, and he even dived over for a controversial second half try.

It was a man-of-the-match performance to stir the senses.

Scotland had their moments in the first half, and Simon Taylor went over for a try, but England went into the break 17-10 up, with Jason Robinson scoring the first try under new coach Brian Ashton and Wilkinson splendidly accurate with his kicking.

England took control after the break, with Robinson touching down again, and Wilkinson sending Twickenham into raptures by going over in the corner (though replays showed he had a foot in touch).

Magnus Lund scored England's fourth and final try, and although Rob Dewey crossed for Scotland late on the hosts were delighted with a 42-20 win.

There was no doubting the star of the show: with a try, five penalties, two conversions and a drop goal Wilkinson had made one of the great sporting comebacks.

Wilkinson dives over for a try but replays suggested his foot had strayed in touch

It didn't quite prove to be the start of a glorious new era for England, because despite wins over Italy and France they were thrashed by Ireland at Croke Park and also lost against Wales in Cardiff.

They would of course somehow go on to reach another World Cup final later that year - but that's another story.

Scotland and their supporters would endure a miserable Six Nations, with just one win over Wales and three defeats, including a humbling 37-17 reverse against the Italians at Murrayfield.

.. And now for this Saturday afternoon at Twickenham, and a game that isn't easy to predict. England will start as favourites, particularly after their morale boosting win over France, but that very often counts for nothing when these two old rivals square up. Let battle commence ..